What are the health needs and challenges?

Pakistan is an out of pocket market where per capita income is as low as 1,629 USD per annum and health care expenditure is only 2.8% of the country’s GDP. This means, that many patients in Pakistan are denied access to appropriate cancer care.

Partnership activities and how they address needs and challenges

Roche Pakistan launched its Patient Support Program for access to cancer medicines, “UNMOL” (Urdu for “Precious”) in August 2017.

The program offers a sustainable financial solution for those in need of oncology treatment. The initiative supports patients, who are unable to complete their treatment as well as those that cannot afford even a single treatment cycle. The medicines provided are targeted therapies and standard of care in many types of cancer.

‘Partially affording’ patients will be supported with a number of treatment cycles based on their financial status, which is evaluated by a third party.

For those who are completely ‘non-affording’ patients, Roche has partnered with the Pakistan Federal Government, who will pay between 50% and 83% of the treatment cost. Roche Pakistan provides the remaining treatment free of cost.